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India and Nepal 2022
I have just returned from climbing Devchuli mountain - at 1,932 metres, a tiddler by Nepali standards but half as much again as Ben Nevis. Looking up at the peak which dominates the skyline, I cannot believe that I have stood at the top today and I am proud of that but also really tired as a result.. Nepali people are not great at estimating time - after all why should they be? The mountains have been here for millions of years and people have lived in these hills for over a thousand years. What does a few hours here and there make in the grand scheme of things! My journey by motorbike was due to take half an hour - it took two hours on mountainous rocky and bumpy road tracks. Our 'walk' was due to take about an hour and a half - it took over three hours on a very strenuous steep trek. And double that for coming down of course! Despite all that, I had a great day with three people who work at local schools, two teachers Baburam and Kebash and someone who is simply known as 'the accountant'! It has been so interesting to observe the lifestyles of people who choose to live in such inaccessible places. At the top of Devchuli, there is a huge mobile phone mast, which was carried up the mountain piece by piece, solar panels and a viewing platform. Unfortunately, it has been very misty all day so I wasn't able to see the mighty Himalaya range. As we eventually made our way back down by motorbike, I had to get off and walk repeatedly as road conditions were simply too dangerous. This gave me the fabulous opportunity of walking alongside goat herds, cattle, boys and young women as the animals were brought down back into tiny hamlets on the mountainside. A timeless scene from the mountains of Nepal which I shall always remember. And a priceless comment from Baburam over a beer just before we reached home, " a good day because we are still alive!" I have taken a lot of shots today and will upload them to this blog when I get home. Remember to look back because I think I took some good ones!
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